Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 14 of 21 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,594 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Murfreesboro
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($327,400 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $543/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.3%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $32,594/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$32,594
$103,045 vs $70,451/yr
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$289k less
$327,400 vs $616,000
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 14 of 21 categories. Carson wins 7 and Murfreesboro wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carson to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $327,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.